What is the method of purification from major ritual impurity when water is unavailable?
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Question:
We went on a trip with some friends outside Riyadh, specifically to al-Thumamah. We left on Wednesday night, and when it was time to sleep, we slept. When we woke up on Thursday, I found that I had wet-dreamed and was in a state of major ritual impurity. There were four of us, and we had nothing with us but a gallon of water for drinking and eating. I told one of my friends what had happened to me, and he said to me: "Perform dry ablution and pray Fajr with us; it is permissible for you." I did what he told me to do. When the time for the midday prayer came, I doubted the matter, and I did not pray with them at any of the times from Fajr on Thursday until 'Isha' on the night of Friday, which is the day of Friday. When we returned to Riyadh, I prayed them after I had taken a full ritual bath, without shortening any of the prayers for the times I had missed. What is required of me in this matter?
Answer:
It is obligatory for you, if such a thing happens, to look around; if you find water near you that you can use for ghusl, you must do so, and it is obligatory upon you. If you do not find any, you should perform tayammum as your companion told you, by rubbing yourself with the earth, and that is sufficient. For Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) says: [al-Nisa: 43], and the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Sahih al-Bukhari 335, and he (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Sahih Muslim 522a. So whoever does not find water, the earth is his wudu'.
If you lose access to water in any place, you must perform dry ablution. You strike the earth with your hands and wipe your face and your palms with it, as Allah (Mighty and Majestic) commanded in , and you pray. You do not have to repeat the prayer; it is sufficient. If you are in a place where there is water, it is obligatory for you to take a full ritual bath. If the weather is cold, you heat the water with fire. If you do not find fire and you fear severe cold for yourself, you perform dry ablution and pray, and it is sufficient for you. Praise be to Allah.
As for your leaving the prayer with them for that long period on Thursday and Friday, this is a mistake and an error on your part. You must repent to Allah for that, feel remorse for what has passed, and not return to it. You did well in making up the prayer when you were able to access water; however, you erred in leaving it and in delaying it.
It is obligatory to repent for that, and not to delay the prayer beyond its time. If you find water, take a full ritual bath; otherwise, perform dry ablution and pray. Do not delay it beyond its time ever.
We went on a trip with some friends outside Riyadh, specifically to al-Thumamah. We left on Wednesday night, and when it was time to sleep, we slept. When we woke up on Thursday, I found that I had wet-dreamed and was in a state of major ritual impurity. There were four of us, and we had nothing with us but a gallon of water for drinking and eating. I told one of my friends what had happened to me, and he said to me: "Perform dry ablution and pray Fajr with us; it is permissible for you." I did what he told me to do. When the time for the midday prayer came, I doubted the matter, and I did not pray with them at any of the times from Fajr on Thursday until 'Isha' on the night of Friday, which is the day of Friday. When we returned to Riyadh, I prayed them after I had taken a full ritual bath, without shortening any of the prayers for the times I had missed. What is required of me in this matter?
Answer:
It is obligatory for you, if such a thing happens, to look around; if you find water near you that you can use for ghusl, you must do so, and it is obligatory upon you. If you do not find any, you should perform tayammum as your companion told you, by rubbing yourself with the earth, and that is sufficient. For Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) says:
and find no water, then seek clean earth
فَلَمْ تَجِدُوا مَاءً فَتَيَمَّمُوا صَعِيدًا طَيِّبًاThe earth has been made for me (and for my followers) a place for praying and a thing to perform Tayammum, therefore anyone of my followers can pray wherever the time of a prayer is due.
وجُعِلَت الأرض مسجدًا وطهورًا، فأيما رجل من أمتي أدركته الصلاة فعنده مسجده وطهورهand its dust has been made a purifier for us in case water is not available
وجُعِلَ التراب لي طهورًا إذا لم نجد الماءIf you lose access to water in any place, you must perform dry ablution. You strike the earth with your hands and wipe your face and your palms with it, as Allah (Mighty and Majestic) commanded in , and you pray. You do not have to repeat the prayer; it is sufficient. If you are in a place where there is water, it is obligatory for you to take a full ritual bath. If the weather is cold, you heat the water with fire. If you do not find fire and you fear severe cold for yourself, you perform dry ablution and pray, and it is sufficient for you. Praise be to Allah.
As for your leaving the prayer with them for that long period on Thursday and Friday, this is a mistake and an error on your part. You must repent to Allah for that, feel remorse for what has passed, and not return to it. You did well in making up the prayer when you were able to access water; however, you erred in leaving it and in delaying it.
It is obligatory to repent for that, and not to delay the prayer beyond its time. If you find water, take a full ritual bath; otherwise, perform dry ablution and pray. Do not delay it beyond its time ever.
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.